Go through the wringer means to experience a very difficult, stressful, or exhausting time. People use it for emotional strain, hard treatment, or a series of problems that leave someone feeling worn out.
The expression comes from older washing machines. After clothes were washed, they were fed through a wringer, a pair of rollers that squeezed out the water. The clothes were pressed tightly as they passed through. That physical image helps explain the modern meaning: a person feels as if life has squeezed them hard.
Today, the phrase is usually figurative. It often describes pressure over time, not one tiny inconvenience. If someone says they went through the wringer, they usually mean they faced serious stress, criticism, loss, conflict, or repeated challenges.
- After the lawsuit, the small business went through the wringer.
- He went through the wringer caring for his father during a long illness.
You can use it for work, health, family problems, public criticism, or any situation that feels intense and draining. The tone is informal but common in everyday English.
